Wrong attitude on disabled: poll
Although the public knows more about the disabled today, labelling and prejudice have become worse, according to a recently released survey by the government's anti-discrimination body.
The Equal Opportunities Commission interviewed 1,011 people from June to August last year. It found an improvement in public awareness towards disabilities but a decline in attitude, compared with 12 years ago.
Nearly half, 47 per cent, of the survey respondents said they avoid the mentally ill or people with HIV or Aids. And 52 per cent said they think the disabled are incompetent and need to rely on others.
Commission official Frederick Fung Kin-kee said he was shocked by the results. He thinks education about disabilities is still inadequate.
'Judging others by their looks and behaviour will only lead to negative attitudes and discrimination,' he said.
